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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1989-05-17, Page 21THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1989. PAGE 21. Do-It-Yourselfers can learn to build with brick Would you like a brick bar-b- que, a masonry planter or wall for your garden, or a masonry retain­ ing wall? Anyone who wants to can work with brick or blocks well, to make structures that are both useful and good looking. Choose the location carefully; make sure the area is well drained and tree roots will not be a problem. Also make sure you check building codes, local by-laws and your property line. 1. To illustrate the approach we will use a planter project. The supporting slab starts with a trench 10 to 12 inches deep and 36 inches wide (to allow for two, 16 inch concrete blocks and a two inch allowance on each side). Dig the trench slightly longer than the planter desired. Fill the bottom of the trench with six inches of crushed stone or gravel. Then assemble forms to make a 36 inch wide by four to six inch deep slab. Place a 1/2” steel reinforcing bar into the forms approximately every four feet that will extend about 12 inches above the slab. Check your spacing so that the reinforcing bars will fit through the cavities in the concrete blocks. Greenhouses extend season Greenhouses are designed to provide optimum conditions for growing plants over an extended season. Auxiliary heating is requir­ ed to maintain temperatures when insufficient solar energy is avail­ able. In addition, humidity and condensation must be carefully controlled to avoid moisture pro­ Mix and place a concrete mix (available from your local building supplies dealer) into your local prepared forms. In the final smoothing of the slab, taper the edges of the concrete downward very slightly - no more than 1/8 inch - to provide a runoff for excess moisture. Keep the concrete moist for 48 - 72 hours then remove the forms. Mark a baseline 2 inches from the front of the slab with a chalk-line. Lay out the first layer of blocks, allowing 3/8 inch between each. Use a pencil and mark their location on the slab. Drive stakes at the corners of the project and stretch string lines between them at the proper height for the first layer. Dampen the slab with clean water. Mix mortar mix - just add water. All materials are available at your local building supplies retail­ er. 2. Start at one corner and trowel a 3/4 inch bed of mortar just behind the chalk-line long enough for 3 or 4 blocks. It should be the full width of the block you have chosen for your project. For this blems. Greenhouses often consume more auxiliary energy than they collect from the sun and therefore can be a net energy liability. However, the benefits of having an area dedicated to growing plants and vegetables can outweigh the energy costs. planter, 4” x 4” x 16” concrete blocks are recommended. Lay the first corner block and tap it level. Butter the end of the next block and press it down into the mortar against the first block creating a 3/8 inch joint. This first corner will provide the reference for the balance of your wall. Plumb the corner in both directions using a level and a straight edge. 3. Next do the other corners, making sure the tops of the blocks are level with your string line. Lay more mortar and fill in the first layer of blocks. Joints between subsequent layers of blocks should only be about 3/8 inch thick. Once the first layer is complete start building up the corners. Use level and straight edge frequently. With the help of a mason’s string line fill in the layers between the corners, cutting off excess mortar with an upward sweep of the trowel. When you reach the chosen height for your planter, cap the walls with a solid block. Let the mortar set “thumb print” hard then finish all joints in a V-shape or concave fashion. Wipe off any drippings with a clean burlap cloth. Allow a few days for the mortar to set then parge the inside of the WICKER, RATTAN a BURI Visit our second floor for a h selection of Wicker, Buri & Rattan. ...Wehavepricesthataresureto please you! P.S. Hard to find pieces are our specialty and we're pleased to order items anytime it's out of stock. planter with about a 1/2 inch thickness of a mortar mix. This will prevent roots and moisture from penetrating the exterior of the planter. Allow this coating to set for three or four days. Now place your soil mixture into the completed planter and add the flowers and shrubs. Sit back and enjoy your project. 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